Geology topics

Heather M. Savage

Publications and source records attributed to Heather M. Savage.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2025

To heal or not to heal?: 2. The moment-recurrence time behavior of repeating earthquakes in the 2011 Prague, Oklahoma aftershock sequence is consistent with laboratory healing rates

The timing and failure conditions of an earthquake are governed by the interplay between fault reloading and restrengthening. The moment-recurrence time behavior of repeating earthquakes can give observational estimates of fault healing rates; however, it is difficult to link these observed healing rates to laboratory studies of frictional healing in part because of uncertainty in lithology. Here, we study the 2011 Prague earthquake sequence, which includes repeating earthquakes in the Arbuckle group and the granitic basement, and compare them to laboratory experiments on samples of the Arbuckle and Troy granite (representative of the basement rock) (Okamoto et al., 2025, https://doi.org/10.1029/2024JB030573 ). We find three spatially distinct groups of repeating earthquakes with different moment-recurrence behavior: (a) constant moment-recurrence time in the Arbuckle group, (b) scattered moment-recurrence time at the intersection of the foreshock-mainshock fault in the granitic basement, and (c) moment-predictable behavior outside of the foreshock-mainshock fault intersection also in the granitic basement. Our observation of stagnant healing for repeating sequences in the Arbuckle group is consistent with laboratory observations of low healing rates for moderately high pore fluid pressures in Arbuckle samples. For the moment-predictable group, the source radius that is required in order to match healing rates is consistent with source radius estimations when taking into account reasonable attenuation of the P- pulse width. Overall, we observe diverse healing behaviors in the seismic families that are consistent with laboratory healing rates, providing seismic evidence that contact-scale frictional mechanisms are relevant to large-scale earthquake dynamics.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2025

Extreme plate boundary localization promotes shallow earthquake slip at the Japan Trench

The 2011 Mw9.1 Tohoku-oki earthquake is exceptional among great earthquakes for having peak slip of ~50-70 m on the shallowest portion of the plate boundary megathrust. International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 405 drilled multiple holes through the megathrust in the large slip region and at a Pacific Plate input site. The megathrust preferentially develops at the top or base of the pelagic clay in the input section where pronounced contrasts in physical properties are present. This results in a narrow, weak fault located at a major mechanical contact between frontal prism mud and subducted clay. Localization imposed by the input section enhances the tendency for shallow seismic slip, showing the Japan Trench may be more susceptible to ruptures with large shallow slip than margins without weak clays.

Japan Trench↗

USGS2022

Stress heterogeneity as a driver of aseismic slip during the 2011 Prague, Oklahoma aftershock sequence

The interaction of aseismic and seismic slip before and after an earthquake is fundamental for both earthquake nucleation and postseismic stress relaxation. However, it can be difficult to determine where and when aseismic slip occurs within the seismogenic zone because geodetic techniques are limited to detecting moderate to large slip amplitudes or long duration small slip amplitudes. Here, we use repeating earthquakes (earthquakes that re-rupture the same fault patch) as a proxy for aseismic slip during the 2011 Prague, Oklahoma earthquake sequence. We find that aseismic slip in the Prague earthquake sequence occurs both within the granitic basement and the overlying sedimentary rocks. The repeating earthquakes show that patches of aseismic slip are mostly located at fault intersections. These fault intersections hosted possible mainshock slip, abundant aftershocks, and afterslip. We estimate that ∼40% of the aftershocks are driven by afterslip. We interpret that aseismic slip occurs at fault intersections where stress heterogeneity creates patches of lower stress that are stable within a nonsteady state, rate-state framework.

Oklahoma↗

USGS2013

Potentially induced earthquakes in Oklahoma, USA: links between wastewater injection and the 2011 M w 5.7 earthquake sequence

Significant earthquakes are increasingly occurring within the continental interior of the United States, including five of moment magnitude (M w ) ≥ 5.0 in 2011 alone. Concurrently, the volume of fluid injected into the subsurface related to the production of unconventional resources continues to rise. Here we identify the largest earthquake potentially related to injection, an M w 5.7 earthquake in November 2011 in Oklahoma. The earthquake was felt in at least 17 states and caused damage in the epicentral region. It occurred in a sequence, with 2 earthquakes of M w 5.0 and a prolific sequence of aftershocks. We use the aftershocks to illuminate the faults that ruptured in the sequence, and show that the tip of the initial rupture plane is within ~200 m of active injection wells and within ~1 km of the surface; 30% of early aftershocks occur within the sedimentary section. Subsurface data indicate that fluid was injected into effectively sealed compartments, and we interpret that a net fluid volume increase after 18 yr of injection lowered effective stress on reservoir-bounding faults. Significantly, this case indicates that decades-long lags between the commencement of fluid injection and the onset of induced earthquakes are possible, and modifies our common criteria for fluid-induced events. The progressive rupture of three fault planes in this sequence suggests that stress changes from the initial rupture triggered the successive earthquakes, including one larger than the first.

Oklahoma↗